Check-protector



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W; BEEBE.

CHECK PROTECTOR.

Patented Nov. 23,1897.

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fimm/ y i ZQzrZ eebe THE nonms PETERS UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

GAYLORD W. BEEBE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CHECK-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,319, dated November23, 1897-. Application filed October 25,1896. Serial No. 566,805. (Nomodel.)

useful Improvements in Check-Protectors, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for indenting checks, drafts, and notes,and for inking the fiber thereof in such a manner that the check-markscannot be changed or altered without so changing the appearance thereofthat the same would be noted instantly by a person seeing the check ordraft.

The object of my invention is to provide a check-protector which shallbe of an extremely simple and cheap construction and which may beoperated by any person whether skilled in the use of the instrument ornot, and the device is designed particularly as an improvement over thecheck-protector shown and described in the application for LettersPatent of the United States filed by me September 17, 1894:, Serial No.523,214.

My invention consists generally in various constructionsandcombinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a plan view of a check-protector embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa sectional view on the line 00 w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional viewon the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a similar view on the line 2 z ofFig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the mechanism for holding the paperstraight during the process of indenting the same. Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10,11, and 12 are details of the punch-points or serrations on the face ofthe dies.

In the drawings, 2 represents the hollow base, preferably of metal, andhaving the removable bottom 3, which is secured in a recess in the loweredge of the base by suitable screws and is provided with rubber buttons4 to prevent the base scratching or otherwise defacing the desk or tableon which the protector may be placed. The top of the base 2 is providedon its under side with'a stud 5, having a central opening to receive arod or pin 6, provided at its upper end with a disk 7, havinga knob 8,into which the upper end of the rod or pin 6 extends, and a spring 9 iscoiled about the pin 6 above the base and below the disk 7 and normallyholds the disk in a raised position.

Upon the under side of the disk 7 and near the outer edge thereof isarranged a series of dies, preferably twelve in number, mounted upon aring 10, which is secured to said disk, and each die is provided on itsface with a series of beveled or cone-shaped points representing figuresor characters, and beneath the disk and securedto the top of the base 2is a removable plate or female die 11, provided with a series ofindentations corresponding to the serrationsin the dies above andadapted to receive the same when the disk 7 is forced down against thetension of the spring 9. Beneath the opposite side of the disk isarranged an inking-pad 12, which may be curved to correspond to thecurve of the disk 7 and of any desired length and in position to ink thepoints on the face of the dies when the disk is forced down. The lowerend of the pin or rod 6 is provided with a collar or ring 13,securelyfastened thereto, and above the ring on said pin is a bracket14:, having an extension at its outer end provided with a slotted upperend, to receive a horizontal shaft 15, which extends out through thewall of the base and is adapted to move vertically in a slot 16,provided therein. The outer end of the shaft 15 is provided with a knobto be grasped by the fingers of the operator when it is desired to placea check in the machine. The inner end of the shaft :15 fits into arecess 17 in the side of the stud 5, the inner end of the recess beingof a size to closely fit the end of the shaft'15, while the outer partof the recess is enlarged to permit the shaft to be depressed, asdescribed. A stud 18 is provided on the under side of the top of thebase, having a slotted lower end to receive and form a guide for theshaft 15. A

flat spring 19 is provided having one end secured to the inside wall ofthe base and its free end bearing upon the under side of the shaft andnormally holding it in the upper end of the slot 16.

Upon the inner end of the shaft 15, between I00 the stud 5 and theupward extension of the bracket 14, is a ratchet 20, and a dog 21 ispivoted to the bracket 14, having one end in engagement with the teethof the ratchet-wheel 20, being held in engagement therewith by thespring 22. Upon the opposite side of the ratchet-wheel and secured tothe under side of the top of the base 2 is a spring-dog 23, also havingits end in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, whereby thewheel is prevented from turning backward during the operation of themachine.

Upon the outer end of the shaft 15 is arranged a hub 24, provided ateach end with the milled wheels 25,which extend up through slots in thetop of the base. The base is pro-- vided upon its upper surface with aflange 26, surrounding the disk 7 and preventing dust and other foreignsubstances from getting into the dies. The flange 26is provided with athreaded opening to receive a pin 27,which extends out parallel with thetop of the base and is provided with the roller 28,which normally restsupon the peripheries of the Wheels 25. The roller 28 is provided with arecess in each end, thereby bringing its bearing on the pin 27 at thecenter of the roll, and the construction permits the roll toautomatically be brought to a proper and even bearing upon the surfacesof the wheels 25. The hub 21 is held in position on the shaft 15 byasuitable set-screw, and a collar 29 is arranged on the shaft just insidethe depending stud 18.

In Figs. 1 and 3 I have shown a device for guiding the paper during theprocess of indentation and thereby assuring perfect aline ment. Thisdevice consists of a long arm 31, pivoted to the inside wall of the base2 and extending over and resting upon the shaft 15, as shown in Fig. 3.This arm is provided at its free end with a roller 32, which extends ashort distance above the upper surface of the top of the base through aslot or opening therein. The roller 32 is provided with annular grooves33 to receive ribs 34, provided on a roller 35, which is supported bythe flange 26. lVhen the shaft 15 is depressed, the arm 31 will dropwith it and leave a space between the rolls 32 and 35 to permit theinsertion of the end of a check or draft, and when the shaft is releasedthe spring beneath the same will raise the shaft and arm back to theirnormal position and keep the paper straight during the process ofindenting. lVhile I consider this device a valuable addition to themachine, I do not confine myself to its use, as it may be dispensedwith, if desired.

1 provide a guide for the check as it is being put into the machine,which consists in a slotted arm 36, held in place by a thumbscrew 37,which enters a threaded opening in the flange 26. The disk 7 is providedupon its upper surface with characters corresponding to the serratedoutlines on the dies beneath, and the periphery of the disk 7 isprovided with recesses 36 to receive a springcatch 37 carried by the topof thebase, and which serves to hold the disk in position when it isbeing depressed to indent the check or draft. A lug 38 is also providedon the top of the base, which prevents the disk from revolving whilebeing depressed and also prevents the disk from being depressed exceptwhen one of the dies carried by said disk is over the female die.

A stopper 39 is provided upon the upper surface of the disk near itsperiphery, through which ink is supplied to the pad below, and the knob8 is also provided with projections which prevent the hand from slippingwhile turning the disk.

A set-screw 42 is provided in the bracket 14 to extend up through thesame and engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 20. This screw acts as astop and regulates the movement of tance at each upward movement aftereach depression of the disk. The screwalso serves to support the springwhich keeps the dog 21 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel.

The punching points or serrations may be continuous, as shown in Figs. 8and 9, or may be made with a space between every two points, as shown inFig. 7, and, as shown in this figure, the depressions in the female dieare preferably made larger in diameter than that of the punch-points, sothat the paper will not be cut when it is forced into the depressions inthe female die, but only crushed and indented. The top of the base ismade crowning, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so that all danger ofsmearing the face of the check or draft with ink during the process ofindenting the same will be avoided.

iVhenever it is desired to ink the pad, the plug or knob 39 is removedand the ink applied by a brush upon the pad through the opening in thetop of the disk.

The operation of the device is as follows: \Vhen it is desired to indenta check or draft, the shaft 15 is depressed and the end of the slip ofpaper inserted between the guidingrolls and also between the milledwheels and the roller 28, the guide 37 serving to bring the paper to theright position. The flange 26 being slotted upon both sides of thefemale die 11, the edge of the paper will slip in under the dies carriedby the disk 7, and when the desired point is reached the disk isdepressed and the serrated face of the dieimmediately above the femaledie forced into the check or draft. As the rod 6 rises after beingdepressed the ratchet mechanism is operated and the milled wheelsrevolved, thereby advancing the paper farther into themachine to presenta new place for indentation. When the desired indentations have beenmade, the shaft may be depressed again and the paper removed. Theindented portions of the paper being thoroughly inked, it will obviouslybe impossible to alter the characters so indented in the face of thepaper without detection. This indentation and abrasion of the paper isparticularly insured by using slightly-blunted points, as shown in Figs.11 and 12.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a device ofthe class described, the combination, with a suitable base, providedwith an annular flange upon its upper surface, of a revoluble andvertically-movable shaft supported by said base, a disk carried by saidshaft and arranged within said flange, and provided with a series ofdies and with a series of notches in its edge, and a spring-dog arrangedin a recess in said flange and adapted to engage the notches in saiddisk, for the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a suitablebase provided with an upright circular flange or wall, a rotating diskmounted upon an upright Vertically-movable shaft and substantiallyfilling the space within said wall or flange, and provided with a seriesof dies upon its under surface and with a series of notches in its edge,a spring arranged within said wall and engaging said notches, and meansfor inking said dies, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the suitable base, provided withan annularflange upon its upper surface, of a revoluble disk supported by saidbase within said flange, dies upon said disk, a plate or female diecarried by the base beneath said disk, an inking-pad also arranged uponthe base beneath the disk, said disk being provided with an openingthrough which said pad may be inked, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a hollowbase, of a revolving vertically-movable disk arranged thereon, arod'whereon said disk is supported, a horizontal shaft arranged withinsaid base, a ratchet carried thereby, a dog carried by said respondingto characters marked upon the upper surface of said disk, a movableplate or female die arranged beneath said disk, and provided withindentations to receive the serrations on the face of said dies whensaid disk is depressed, and means for inking said dies,

substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the base, ofthe verticallymovable revolving disk mounted thereon, a rod 'or shaftsupporting said disk, the bracket upon the lower end thereof, ahorizontal shaft having one end extending through the wall of said base,the ratchet-wheel upon the inner end thereof, the dog carried by saidbracket for engaging the teeth of said ratchet during the upwardmovement of said disk, the wheel arranged upon the outer end of saidshaft and extending up through the top of said base, the roller abovesaid wheel, the spring for normally holding said wheel in engagementwith said roller, and permitting said shaft and wheel to be depressed toinsert the paper between said wheel and said roller, the female diearranged beneath said disk, a series of dies carried by said disk, meansfor inking the same, and a guide for preventing said disk from turningwhile being depressed, and the spring for normally holding said disk ina raised position substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day ofSeptember, A. D.

GAYLORD W. BEEBE. In presence of- A. 0. PAUL,' O. G. HAWLEY.

